Abstract:

This study examines the perception of the university students of the use of ChatGPT during their university education in one of the best universities of Turkey. ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by OpenAI, has suddenly become very popular among the university students in the World as well as in Turkey. Even though OpenAI ChatGPT has many problems such as plagiarism, most of the students find highly beneficial while studying their lessons, making their homework assignments, and having strategies in solving their problems. For that reason, OpenAI ChatGPT has been transforming the higher education strategies in this digital age.
In order to understand the perception of the university students of the use of ChatGPT during their university education, the well structured survey was given to the 338 university students in three different departments of the Faculty of Education. In the 24 survey question, the usage of ChatGPT, its impact on the university students’ learning process, and any noticeable improvement in their academic performance were asked. Additionally, the 4 open ended questions were given to gain a deeper understanding of student perceptions.
The answers of the students on the perception of the university students of the use of ChatGPT during their university education had shown that most of the students (98%) found that ChatGPT played significant roles in their self-study sessions. More importantly, many students (86%) mentioned that ChatGPT helped them in comprehending the most complex concepts and in problem-solving. Furthermore, most of them (82%) had clarified that they could engage more effectively and efficiently with complex course materials, particularly related to new subjects such as computer science. More critically, a large number of the students (75%) reported that self-confidence had improved while solving complex problems. On the other hand, in the open-ended questions related to ChatGPT, most of the students (68%) pointed out that they use it in all lessons since it is accessible and affordable. Their concentration and commitment had improved due to the fact that they could use even as their strategies by following the steps in their assignments. More critically, as the students had mentioned that the use of ChatGPT is much more effective than traditional learning. They (43%) also noted that ChatGPT helped them reduce their dependency on their peers, assistants, tutors, and professors for academic help since it helped them improve independent learning.
Consequently, the perception of the university students of the use of ChatGPT during their university education showed that the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT in university education has potential to transform learning processes at the universities. As seen in this study, ChatGPT can serve as an effective tool to support traditional education methods, fostering independent learning, and enhancing students' problem-solving capabilities. The findings clearly demonstrate the potential benefits of integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into university learning strategies. The tool's capacity to provide real-time, interactive, and personalized assistance complements traditional learning methods. Furthermore, it is seen critically that it improves self learning, problem-solving, and strategic thinking capabilities, which are critical 21st century skills in the academic and professional world.

Keywords:

ChatGPT, University Students, Digital Learning, AI in Higher Education, 21st Century Skills